Watch Out!
A Newsletter for Waverley Neighbourhood Watch
Co-ordinators and Members
Haslemere District Sept 2008
The following is a press release sent out to the local newspapers and radio stations in the South East on Friday 5 th September regarding a robbery at knife point at 1am in the morning.
Please understand that this is a very unusual incident
I was advised that a Press Release was about to be issued for the incident so it was not immediately circulated to NHW.
I also understand that a number of “Males are helping the Police with their enquiries”.
5 September 2008
Witness appeal to robbery in Haslemere
Surrey Police are appealing for witnesses following a robbery which occurred in Derby Road, Haslemere just after midnight on Thursday 4 September.
A woman had left the railway station and was walking towards Derby Road when she was approached by two men who demanded money and her bag. They made off with the bag, containing a digital camera and her purse, along Derby Road towards Church Road.
Both suspects are described as white, fresh-faced/young looking and around 15-17-years-old. The first suspect is described as between 5ft 6” – 5ft 8” tall, of lean build and clean shaven. He was wearing a green Khaki hooded zipped-up jumper with thick horizontal stripes in the middle. The second suspect was between 5ft 6” – 5ft 9” tall of lean build and clean shaven and was wearing a red hooded top.
DC Kevin Ford said: “This was a nasty ordeal for the woman and we are appealing for anyone who was in the area and has any information to contact us so we can bring these individuals to justice. Haslemere is a safe place to live but I would urge people to be alert and aware of their surroundings when out and about late at night.”
Anyone with information should call Surrey Police on 0845 125 2222 quoting reference WV/08/3363 or call Crimestoppers anonymously and free of charge on 0800 555 111.
Making a Difference at West Surrey
Two PCs from TPT (targeted patrol team) have been thanked by a gentleman in Frensham. They attended an incident concerning damage to his property during the early hours of a June day.
His thank you card reads: "They both made sure that I was alright before they left. I am not used to getting this nice treatment these days and I cannot speak highly enough of these officers".
CID police recently demonstrated once again the ability to recognise a problem and deal with it effectively. The problem in this case revolved around multiple auto crime offences being committed during the hours of darkness at Godalming and Guildford. With limited information and intelligence, the Team carried out a surveillance operation at the locations being attacked during which time two offenders, both from London, returned to all three crime scene venues where they committed further auto crime offences. Due to some excellent decision making by the officers involved both men were arrested accordingly in possession of property from the said offences. At this point the Forensic Intelligence Team picked up the investigation and through comprehensive interviews of both suspects and other enquiries, they was able to charge both with conspiracy to commit thefts from motor vehicles, in effect detecting 50 offences of auto crime across the division. Both men recently appeared before Guildford Crown Court having entered guilty pleas and received custodial sentences.
A Cranleigh resident has written "We had our wheelie bin removed from our front a week or so ago and could not find it anywhere. I reported it to the police station and eventually it was retrieved from a ditch and return it to us by the local PCSO. We are immensely grateful to him for his good, earnest work here in the village and highly recommend him for the serious way in which he deals with the tasks thrown at him. Well done him."
More info on Theft of Fuel Alarm
This is a piece of equipment that can be placed inside the screw cap of the oil tank. If the cap is disturbed an alarm is set off.
For further information on this product contact BusinessWatch Group, which is based in Orton Southgate, Peterborough, on 0870 766 3534 or web address businesswatchgroup.com
Unfortunately waiting for someone to answer the phone number I quoted tried the patience of one of our coordinators, and me when I tried it. As far as I can find out, this seems to be a good idea but I can not find any information on it. The number I gave is correct and the company web site can be accessed.
Personal Data Security and computers
A while ago I received an e-mail from one of our members regarding the cleaning of the hard disk memory on a computer when you sell or dispose of it. I know programmes exist and had a look on the internet for information, getting 1,070,000 replies! But on the right hand side of the page (screen) there were about seven addresses of companies that sell programmes to do this function. I do not know if any of them are any good and I cannot make any recommendations as I have not used any of them but I would strongly recommend that when you get rid of a personal computer whether it be to the recycling centre or by sale to another person, you remove the personal data.
If you wish to call up the list I found, I went on to Google and entered “hard disk deleting” (without the inverted commas at each end), searching in the UK only.
The following story has been doing the rounds and sounds a good idea:
However I am advised that
IT IS A HOAX, IT DOES NOT WORK
The story is:
A useful tip - just hope that you do not ever need to use it !!
ATM - PIN Number Reversal - Good to Know
If you should ever be forced by a robber to withdraw money from an ATM machine, you can notify the police by entering your PIN # in reverse.
For example, if your pin number is 1234, then you would put in 4321.
The ATM system recognizes that your PIN number is backwards from the ATM card you placed in the machine.
The machine will still give you the money you requested, but unknown to the robber; the police will be immediately dispatched to the location.
This information was recently broadcast on CTV by Crime Stoppers however it is seldom used because people just don't know about it.
Do not forget – If there’s a knock at the door!
Ask for some identification
Stop! Are you expecting anyone? – Put the Chain on – Ask for a caller’s identity before you let them in.
ALSO last thing before going to bed
“ LOCK UP WINDOWS and DOORS”, SET the ALARM, and HIDE THE CAR KEYS.
If you see something happening that you are unhappy with
Ring the police on 0845 125 2222 straight away!!! Stating that a “suspicious incident” has occurred on or near your property.
OR
Report it on the internet using http://www.surrey.police.uk/crimereporting.asp
THIS MONTHS CRIMES
Waverley Domestic Crime Figures
The Crime Summary I circulate with this newsletter is a guide only and is not a complete list!
It only lists those crimes pertinent to residential areas. We do not circulate bad neighbour disputes, business premises, crimes of a sexual, or family nature.
If you want complete crime statistics for your area then go to the Surrey Police Web site, click on Safer Neighbourhoods; Click on the Waverley borough part of the map of Surrey.
Near the bottom of the page after the photos of’ Specialist Officers you will find the crime statistics.
Click on the ward you live in and the stats will appear.
Waverley has a population of nearly 116,000. This works out at some 47,000 homes I found the population total in the 2001 census. Last month we had 144 crimes involving ‘dwellings and property’, which isn’t a lot for that number of homes. The majority of these reports will be damage to cars and vans.
Haslemere and District. . May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008
House Burgalry 2 4 5 2
House Damage 1 1 0 2
Garage Burglary 0 1 0 0
Theft from Garage/House 1 1 0 0
Theft of Cars/vans/motor bikes 0 1 0 0
Theft from Cars/Vans 6 1 6 6
Damage to Cars/vans/m. bikes 3 4 2 5
Theft of Bicycles 0 0 0 1
Theft from gardens/sheds 1 6 7 3
(tools mowers gates plants etc)
Damage to Fences/gates & 0 1 0 0
garden (plants etc)
Hand bags and purses. 0 0 0 0
Theft of lead 1 1 2 0
Miscellaneous Burglary/Theft 1 4 1 0
(halls, shelters, etc.)
Miscellaneous Damage 1 0 0 1
Total 17 25 23 21
SMALL NHW SIGNS For sale at £5 each; they are 4 x 6 inches and made of tough plastic. Cheques should be made out to “Godalming Crime Prevention Panel” and ordered via me on Email or the usual phone numbers.
Free “We do not Buy and Sell at the Door” and NHW Stickers
Surrey Police issue a sticker stating: “Please Note. We do not buy or sell at the door. I shall expect identification I can verify”. I can supply them.
Circular NHW Stickers Is your NHW sticker feeling and looking it’s age? We have the circular NHW stickers! If you need some please let me know.
USEFUL TELEPHONE AND ADDRESS INFORMATION
Emergency Dial 999 when you have a genuine emergency requiring the attendance of the police, such as a crime in progress or danger to life and limb.
A crime that has already happened? Ring the Police Call Centre 0845 125 2222 tell them you are a Member of Neighbourhood Watch and after giving your information, ask for an ICAD number (a 7 figure reference) if you want to keep track of it OR report it on the internet using http://www.surrey.police.uk/crimereporting.asp
Crimestoppers A nonymous, free, and confidential Tel: 0800 555 111 or by computer www.crimestoppers-uk.org
SURPOL
What’s SURPOL . It is “The Surrey Police Keyholder Database” and is the official method for registering your keyholders and vital contact info for your home. Registration ensures the police, Emergency Services and Local Authority can access this info should an incident occur on your property while left unattended. How to register 08701611212 or on line WWW.surpol.co.uk or by post to PO box 779 Guildford GU4 8ZJ Fax 01483 407899.
Registration is for one year and costs £11:75 which covers the cost of operating the system and protecting your data. A £1 donation from every registration is made to Neighbourhood Watch. If you would like an application form I can send you one (by post).
If you are approached by cold callers or you are aware of cold callers operating in your area this should be reported to The Surrey Trading Standards Consumer Direct Line on 08454040506 and the Police; or Surrey Trading Standards 01372 371700
Charities
If you want to know about charities and collecting, and what authority a street collector should have, go to the Charities Commission web site http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/registeredcharities/sgc.asp which should tell you all about it.
John Robini Waverley Crime Reduction Adviser Tel: 01483 63 16 23 E-mail: robini10377@surrey.pnn.police.uk
The service is free
Regards, Richard Terry,
Neighbourhood Watch Manager Waverley
Telephone : 01483 63 00 11
Email: terry11874@surrey.pnn.police.uk
Address: Farnham Police Station, Longbridge, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7QA
